Refrigerator show case



Sept. 30, 1930. I

J. E. GLoEKLEfi REFRIGERATOR SHOW CASE I 2 Sheets-She 2 Fil ed March 21,1928 INVENTO Patented Sept. 30, '1930 -rrno STATES J OI -IN EDWARDGLOEKLER, F PITTSBlJ'RGH, PENNSYLVANIA REFRIGERATOR SHOW CASEApplication filed March 21, 1928. Serial No. 263,284.

My invention is an improvement in the class. of refrigerator show casesfor display ing meat, fish, butter, vegetables or other perishableprovisions. It has for its object to provide a show case of novel,attractive and eflicient construction, embodying a selfdrainingrefrigerating chamber so constructed as to be concealed from view withinthe upper portion of the case, with clear containing space below. Alsoto provide, in the construction of the refrigerator chamber, for ampleand free downward circulation of cold air from its bottom into andthrough the containing or display space and upwardly therefrom of warmerair to the top of the refrigerator chamber.

A further object is to provide a construction embodying an upperseparate illuminating compartment in front of the refrigerat- ZG ingchamber,'together with other features of construction and advantage, asshall be more fully described.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a show caseembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial cross section therethrough of the upper portion,enlarged; Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section on the line III-HIof Fig.2.

The show case as a whole is generally rectangular in plan,ha-Ving abackwardly slop- 7 ing front for the containing and display space A,terminating in a narrower upward- 1y projecting portion B embodying therefrigerator chamber.

shown the lower base portion C is utilized for storage and limitedrefrigeration, within the main enclosing walls 2 and ends 3, with reardoorsd of any suitable kind opening to theinterior, and frontclosingpanels 25.

Extending acrossbetween the lower base i portion C and its containedstorage space 0, and the middle section A; and its contained displayspace a, is a transverse floor partition 5 framed into .or supported bythe front and back wall structure 2, and the ends. Such partition may besufliciently open, if desired,

for air circulation between the chambers for limited refrigeration ofthe lower chamber,

. 5 tight as preferred.

In the construction The rear wall of thecabinet extends up wardly at theback to the full extent of its height, as shown, terminatingin a closedwall section 6 forming the rear closure for the refrigeratorsection 'Band its interior 6. Sliding or swinging doors 7 provide closin access tothe chamber a from the rear an may, if preferred, be providedwith'glasspanelsSy f I The front of thesection B is composed of an inner.partition 9 extending downwardly from the covering top 10 and providingbetween it and rear wall 6'the ice containing orrefrigeratingchamber,bopening down-I. V

wardly into chamber a The outer front of section B is closed by a lightWall or glass pane 11 mounted in framing viding between it and wall 9the illuminating cavity 14.

-. This cavity, is provided at its top with one 12, l3, and proormorelaimps 15 a-da-ptedgto shed rays of light outwardly through pa nejll and down wardlythrough a lower closing pane 16 to the interior a. 1

In this manner thelight cavity 14 is closed off from theinterior,avoiding anyheat transmission from the lamps. 'The ends of thecabinet are closedbysolid end walls17 with separate panels 18 of glass,or otherwise may be used for exposure of. the contents of chamhere, inharmony with any particular design of the cabinet which may be adopted.v j

F or the purpose of supporting ice within the refrigerator chamber 6 Iutilize inner partition walls 19 spaced inwardly from walls 6- and 9.WallslQ terminate below the inner surface of top'loproviding amplecirculat ing spacefor upwardly moving currents of Warmer air passingfrom the main interior a to the top of chamber 6, and are provided withinwardly extending sloping drip extensions 20 having downwardly turnedlip edges Walls 19720 are of any suitable material, and preferablyembody one or morelinings or layers ofinsulating material, as felt,paper, or the like, for prevention of heat trans mission. I d V The iceis supported upon a series of spaced apartcross slats 22 of invertedchannel or other form, carried between and upon the walls 19 and theirinward extensions 20, as in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of collecting drip water from the melting ice, a shallowdrip pan 23 is mounted and extends between theend walls 17 for the fulllength of chamber b. As shown'the pan is sufficiently wide to extendbeyonc the inner edges of sloping. extensions and is located below themsufficiently far to provide ample intervening circulating space fordownwardly moving currents of cold air, as indicated. 7 1

A drain pipe 24 leads downwardly from 15 the bottom of the pan at one orboth ends to any suitable point of discharge, for carrying off watercollected in the pan.

The top 10 is removable for renewal of ice, cleaning, etc., and thecabinet as a. whole 0 is well constructed and adapted to its purpose. i

' The refrigerating chamber is entirelyabove the.,main cavity a andcompletely concealed from view, while providing by its outer fram- 25ing and top a feature of ornamental value and utility, for placement ofany desired units. a

The illuminating section 14 adds a feature of utility and finish to thecomplete cabinet,

: and greatly assists in the display of commodities in the interior a.As shown, the illuminating cavity occupies but a small portion of thecross section of the portion B, leaving the major portion available forthe refrigerant, while the front and ends of the cabinet surroundin theinterior a are of glass, as shown.

, WVhat I claim is 2- H v In a show case refrigerator, the'combinationwith a supporting base having a floor,

.40 end walls, and av top,.of a vertical back wall between the floor andtop at one side, an upper outer transparent front wall at the opposite-side extending from'the top. partially towards the floor, aninner front wall ex- .45 tendingfrom the top co-extensivewith saidtransparent wall and connected therewith by a lowertransversewallproviding an enclosed illuminating chamber, an illuminant therein, afront transparent wall extending from 50 theupper'outer transparentwallto the floor andprovidingwith the back wall a main commodity chamber, anice supporting casing located immediately below the top and between theback wall and the inner front wall consisting of side walls spacedinwardly therefrom and downwardly from the top for circulation andhaving inwardly sloping extensions converging towards a middle openbottom, and a drip pan located below and extending at each side beyondsaid extensions for collection of water and providing interveningcirculation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

, JOHN EDWARD GLOEKLER.

